Cleo H Davis

Military
Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group who survived a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Little Twink" return to base. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The five survivors of the crashed Fortress, "Little Twink" arrive back at their home base. They are (left to right): Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, media-413394.jpg FRE 4714 Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group who survived a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Little Twink" return to base. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The five survivors of the crashed Fortress, "Little Twink" arrive back at their home base. They are (left to right): Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamiak, pilot, of 297 Elm Street, Holyoke, Mass.; Lt. Wm. Crockett, Jr., co-pilot, of Buna, Texas; and Sgt. Cleo Davis, radio-gunner, of 463 Laurel Street, Chillicothe, Ohio. WOR 263572/3. 1-1-44-Y.' Censor no: 298321. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4714 - Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group who survived a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Little Twink" return to base. Passed for...

30 December 1943 on mission to IGF factory at Ludwigshaven. In B17#42-39780 'Little Twink' On bomb run, ac hit by flak and lost #3 engine. Hit by flak again over Frankfurt and unable to keep in formation, RAF escorted a/c to Hawkinge, Kent, where a/c crash landed. Unfortunately 7 crew members baled out but parachutes failed to open. 5 KOF 5 RTD. Davis completed 50 missions.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress . Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Back at their home base in the 'plane which went to pick them up, the five survivors of the Flying Fortress "Little Twink" talk over their experience. They are (left to right): Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adami

42-39780

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Twink
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Ohio, USA 22 November 1915

Enlisted

Newport, KY 41071, USA 19 March 1941 At Fort Thomas

Other

Married Cynthia Kreitzer

1 June 1974

Died

Dayton, OH, USA 14 February 1988
Vinton County, OH, USA

Buried

West Alexandria, OH 45381, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

NARA enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf…

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24805569/cleo-h.-davis

https://www.newspapers.com/image/291951970
https://www.newspapers.com/image/291909207

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.351st.org/ken.harbour/">www.351st.org/ken.harbour/> Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol.  I, p. 449

Cleo H Davis: Gallery (4 items)

A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Back at their home base in the 'plane which went to pick them up, the five survivors of the Flying Fortress "Little Twink" talk over their experience. They are (left to right): Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamia

Object number: FRE 4711 - A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B...

A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress . Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Back at their home base in the 'plane which went to pick them up, the five survivors of the Flying Fortress "Little Twink" talk over their experience. They are (left to right): Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adami

Object number: FRE 4712 - A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B...

Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The five survivors of the crashed Fortress, "Little Twink" arrive back at their home base. They are (left to right): Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamiak, pilot, o

Object number: FRE 4713 - Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group with a B-17...

Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group who survived a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Little Twink" return to base. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The five survivors of the crashed Fortress, "Little Twink" arrive back at their home base. They are (left to right): Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner,

Object number: FRE 4714 - Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group who survived a...